Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) vs Honor Magic 5 Pro
The Verdict
Apple's iPhone SE 3rd gen offers exceptional value at $429 with the powerful A15 Bionic chip matching flagship performance, though its 4.7-inch Retina LCD display feels dated with 60Hz refresh rate and modest 625 nits brightness. Battery life suffers from the tiny 2018 mAh capacity, requiring frequent charging despite efficient iOS optimization. Honor Magic 5 Pro commands $899 but justifies premium pricing through a 6.81-inch 120Hz OLED display reaching 1800 nits brightness, significantly larger 5100 mAh battery, and versatile quad-camera system featuring 50MP main with OIS, 3.5x telephoto, and 50MP ultra-wide. Processing power via Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 matches the A15. Choose iPhone SE for budget-conscious buyers prioritizing performance and ecosystem, or Magic 5 Pro for users demanding modern display technology, superior cameras, and all-day battery endurance.
Who Should Buy
Buy the Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) if…
- →Most affordable iPhone with 5G
- →Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- →Compact and lightweight design
Buy the Honor Magic 5 Pro if…
- →Triple 50 MP camera system with excellent 3.5x periscope telephoto
- →Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers flagship performance
- →50W wireless charging is among the fastest available
Category Scores
Pros & Cons
Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation)
Pros
- Most affordable iPhone with 5G
- Powerful A15 Bionic chip
- Compact and lightweight design
- Touch ID home button
- Long iOS software support
Cons
- Dated design with thick bezels
- Single rear camera
- Small 4.7-inch LCD display
- Lightning port instead of USB-C
- Modest battery life
Honor Magic 5 Pro
Pros
- Triple 50 MP camera system with excellent 3.5x periscope telephoto
- Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 delivers flagship performance
- 50W wireless charging is among the fastest available
- IP68 water resistance with 5100 mAh battery
- 3D face unlock via ToF sensor is fast and secure
Cons
- Thick and heavy at 219 g and 8.77 mm
- MagicOS software is heavily skinned — not stock Android
- Brand recognition is lower than Samsung or Apple in Western markets
- 66W wired charging is slower than competitors like OnePlus 100W
- Limited global after-sales service network
Full Specifications
| Spec | Apple iPhone SE (3rd generation) | Honor Magic 5 Pro |
|---|---|---|
| Software | iOS 15 | Android 13 (MagicOS 7.1) |
| Body | ||
| Weight | 144 g | 219 g |
| Material | Aluminum frame | Aluminum frame, nano-crystal glass back |
| IP rating | IP67 | IP68 |
| Dimensions | 138.4 x 67.3 x 7.3 mm | 162.9 x 76.7 x 8.77 mm |
| Camera | ||
| Main camera | 12 MP | 50 MP, f/1.6, OIS, Sony IMX906 |
| Front camera | 7 MP | 12 MP, f/2.4, 3D ToF |
| Video | 4K@60fps | 4K@60fps |
| Telephoto | — | 50 MP, f/3.0, 3.5x optical zoom, OIS |
| Ultrawide | — | 50 MP, f/2.0 |
| Memory | ||
| RAM | 4 GB | 8 GB / 12 GB |
| Storage options | 64 GB, 128 GB, 256 GB | 256 GB, 512 GB |
| Battery | ||
| Capacity | 2018 mAh | 5100 mAh |
| Charging | 20W wired | 66W wired |
| Wireless charging | 7.5W Qi | 50W wireless |
| Display | ||
| Size | 4.7 inches | 6.81 inches |
| Type | Retina IPS LCD | LTPO OLED |
| Resolution | 1334 x 750 | 2848 x 1312 |
| Refresh rate | 60Hz | 120Hz |
| Brightness (nits) | 625 | 1800 |
| Processor | ||
| CPU | Hexa-core | Octa-core (1x3.2 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 2x2.8 GHz + 3x2.0 GHz) |
| GPU | Apple GPU (4-core) | Adreno 740 |
| Chipset | Apple A15 Bionic | Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 |
| Connectivity | ||
| 5G | ||
| NFC | ||
| USB | Lightning | USB-C 3.1 |
| Wi-Fi | Wi-Fi 6 | Wi-Fi 6 |
| Bluetooth | 5.0 | 5.3 |
Related Comparisons
This comparison is based on verified manufacturer specifications covering display, performance, camera, battery, and build quality. Scores are generated by analyzing specs across weighted categories on a 10-point scale. Learn more about our methodology.
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